Stoick has career game but Cougars fall to Northwestern
(Story by Zach Koenig)
Pictured right-Ryan Stoick 3-TD receptions for Cougars
Morris, MN—Ryan Stoick (Sr. Morris, MN) had career highs in touchdowns and receptions but the University of Minnesota-Morris football squad fell to Northwestern College 38-22 on Homecoming weekend.
Stoick hauled in 10 receptions for 121 yards and found pay dirt in the end zone three times, both career highs for the wide receiver. Stoick now leads the team in receptions (16) and his second in receiving yards (208).
Northwestern took an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter of the game thanks to a rushing touchdown by Zack Tarter. On the next possession, however, Cougars quarterback Jeff Karschnick (Sr. Windom, MN) threw a 27-yard TD strike to Stoick and Rick Arterberry’s (Sr. Alex, OK) extra point was good, giving UMM a 7-6 advantage, where the score would stay at the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, another Northwestern rushing touchdown put the visitors up 13-7. UMM could not convert on the next two possessions and, despite a missed field goal from Northwestern’s Cody Crum, saw Northwestern strike through the air with just 2:05 left in the half, giving them a 19-7 lead.
Running the two-minute offense, Karschnick completed passes to Stoick and Brady Rose (So. Morgan, MN) to drive the Cougars down the field, but Arterberry hooked a field goal attempt wide left from 23 yards out to keep the halftime score 19-7.
The Cougars received the ball to start the second half and immediately drove the field thanks to a 15-yard reception by Matt Harren (Jr. Eagle Bend, MN) and a 23-yard run from Taylor Johnson (So. Lakeville, MN). Karschnick capped the drive with a 15-yard TD pass to Stoick. Arterberry’s conversion of the extra point brought the Cougars within five points at 19-14.
On the ensuing possession, however, Northwestern drove 55 yards for a rushing touchdown, again widening their lead to 25-14.
With the third quarter winding down, the Cougars were forced to punt and give the ball back to the visitors, who promptly drove the length of the field for another score, threatening a blowout at 32-14.
After a series of failed possessions, Northwestern scored yet again with 7:52 remaining in the game to take a 38-14 lead. Yet, on the ensuing drive that started from their own eight yard-line, the Cougars drove all 92 yards and Karschnik connected with Stoick for the third time (a 6-yard pass) for the score. Karschnik then completed a pass to Rose for the two-point conversion and the score was 38-22, where it would stay for the remaining few minutes.
For the Cougar offense, Karschnik finished 19-34 with 3 TDs, I INT, and 234 yards. Johnson led the ground game with 21 carries for 110 yards. Behind Stoick, the receiver corps included Rose’s four catches for 55 yards and Matt Fragodt’s (Jr. Becker, MN) two receptions for 37 yards.
On the defensive side, Aaron Briesmeister (So. Howard Lake, MN) picked up his first sack of the season, while Andrew Shay (Jr. Minneapolis, MN) and Blair Elliot (Jr. Forrest Lake, MN) led the way with nine and six tackles, respectively. Shane Fickes (So. Herman, MN) had one interception returned for three yards, his third pick of the season.
The Cougars, now 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the UMAC, next travel to Marantha Baptist College on Saturday, October 6, for a 12:00 p.m. contest.
 |  |
| Minnesota - Morris | 7 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 22 |
| Northwestern College | 6 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 38 |
| |
Box Score
